Mayor takes back the wheel, ending decades of private bus control

Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, has signed an order that will bring the region’s bus network back under public control for the first time in almost 40 years.

The decision has kickstarted the transition process towards franchised bus services, replacing the current private operator-led network. The first public-controlled services are expected to start rolling out in late 2027, with the whole process finished during 2029.

Rising costs have hit the private operator-led bus network in recent years, and it is being “propped up” with £50m a year of taxpayers’ money to prevent more services from being cut, the WMCA said.

It added that an independent audit found that through increased competition among operators, franchising would offer better value for money, whatever the level of public funding.

The transition is expected to cost £22.5m over three years to set up the franchised operation and design the new network.

The WMCA will need bus depots and a fleet of more than 1,000 buses – either bought outright or leased using either the authority’s transport grants or borrowing through fare income. The WMCA, which already owns a depot in Walsall, says this will increase competition by opening up the new franchises to a wider range of operators.

TfWM is also continuing to invest in infrastructure, including a network of bus priority routes to help services bypass traffic jams and improve reliability.

The Mayor said: “For too long, our buses have been run for private profits, not public good. Today, that changes.

“The public have been clear – they want a better bus service under public control, and I’ve heard them loud and clear. I promised to take back control of our buses – and today’s decision shows we’re delivering on that promise.

“The work is now underway, and over the next two years we’ll create a bus network that puts passengers first – reliable, affordable and run in the interests of the people that use them.”